If there’s one thing I’m kinda picky about, it’s foundations.
Foundation is, not to sound repetitive, the foundation for the rest of your makeup. If your foundation isn’t on point, then the rest of your makeup isn’t going to look great. This item is also the one makeup product I certainly don’t mind splurging on. Hey, if I know it works wonders on my skin, it’s worth every penny.
I got the chance to recently try out Too Faced’s Born This Way Foundation, which is still relatively new for the brand. This oil-free foundation is said to masterfully diffuse the line between makeup and skin. Coverage is supposed to be undetectable, so you can’t see the product and you can’t see imperfections. All that’s left is naturally radiant skin that looks like you were “born this way”.
Available in a 18-shade range, I received the colour Porcelain, which is fair to neutral-to-pink undertones. At C$49 a pop, it is on the pricer side of foundations (although not the priciest; I’m used to spending anywhere from $55 to $69 for a foundation). The formula is infused with a combination of coconut water to natural replenish moisture levels, as well as alpine rose to brighten skin’s appearance and promote elasticity. It also contains hyaluronic acid for a smoother, more youthful appearance.
I’ve been using this foundation for a few months now and you can definitely tell it’s a higher-end product. It really does leave your skin looking flawless, but natural. It’s not the most high-coverage foundation I own, or the most wow-worthy (that award goes to Marc Jacobs Beauty Re(marc)able Foundation), but it’s still a great foundation. Typically I’ll go with a drugstore foundation for the day, but I do find myself reaching for this guy often since it leaves my skin looking so nice and wears well. It also sets really beautifully; you can’t really tell that you’re wearing a foundation.
The thing I really like about this product is that it’s a good universal foundation. I’ve worn it to work and I’ve worn it for nights out. It kinda falls in the middle between day and night foundations – you can wear it anytime. It’s lightweight, but leaves you with nice coverage. You can definitely build it up for more coverage, but if I had to clarify what kind of finish it leaves you with, I would say a medium coverage.
At that price point, it does run a little less expensive than some of my other holy grail foundations, like NARS Sheer Glow and Laura Mercier Silk Creme, but both of those are a full-coverage foundations that I typically reserve for special occasions or nights out. They also tend to feel a little heavy on my skin, whereas this one (maybe it’s the coconut water?), is more light.
If you are interested in this foundation, I would definitely stop by your local Sephora for a sample of it so you can see if it works for you.
Have you tried Too Faced’s Born This Way foundation?
Please note, product sent by PR, all opinions are my own.
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If there’s one lip product that’s been making the rounds on Instagram, it’s Maybelline’s new Vivid Matte Liquid by ColorSensational Lip.
Officially launched this month, these high-opacity lip shades are full in colour, in both pigmentation and shade range. Available in 10 shades from nude to pinks to red to purples, this sensuous matte lip colour has a velvet smooth texture with a creamy matte finish. They are infused with pure pigments for a high-impact colour; what you see is what you get.
I received four of these guys: 5 Nude Thrill, 10 Nude Flush, 15 Pink Charge, and 20 Electric Pink, and the first thing I noticed was how these really do apply quite bold. I’ve been testing out a lot of matte liquid lipsticks lately, so these were a saving grace on my lips, since unlike other brands, they don’t dry you out. You don’t have the shrivelled-up my-lips-feel-like-they-are-in-the-desert sensation that is synonymous with matte liquid lip colours. Long story short, they typically aren’t that comfortable to wear. With these Maybelline ones though, you get a soft, cushiony feel that doesn’t make you reach for the nearest lip balm.
Usually the dryness is required to full set the colour matte, since the colour is essentially sealed on your lips, however, the Vivid Mattes still dry relatively matte. Depending on the colour, I have seen some shine peek through, but I don’t really mind that, especially with the lighter shades. But I mean, I would rather have comfort over matte-ness. I will say though, that because these don’t set as hard as other traditional matte formulas, I do find myself reapplying the colour more than I would with other brands (MAC’s Retro Matte, L’Oreal Infallible Two-Step lip colours, or the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks would be examples). Also, if you reach for the darker colours, I would be wary of smudging or transfer since these don’t seal on your lips as much as other matte lip colours.
Overall, these are like the kid sister to true matte lip colours. If you don’t like the feeling of this texture with other brands then I would look into these. The colour payoff is amazing and Maybelline has come out with a variety of different shades to suit anyone. Of the four I received there isn’t any that I can say I don’t like. I obviously gravitated towards Electric Pink first, but once I got to playing with the other colours, I really started to appreciate what Maybelline did with these. Some of them I found actually went on nicer or different than they looked in the tube. Pink Charge is a high-intensity, almost fluorescent pink with a hint of coral, making it perfect for summer and a tan. I’ve seen Nude Flush all over social media, and with good reason as it leans towards a pink-toned nude, making it really wearable for both day and night.
I would love to pick up a few more shades from this range, since the purples are really calling my name. If you’ve picked up any colours, let me know your thoughts!
Have you tried Maybelline’s Vivid Matte Liquid lip colours yet?
Please note, products provided by PR. All opinions are my own.
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So last week, a headline on Twitter caught my attention. “This $7 Drugstore Mascara is Already Outselling You Old Favourite” SELF magazine posted, which obviously made me click right away. The mascara? Maybelline Lash Sensational Full Fan Effect Mascara.
Lash Sensational came out last year I believe, and was named Best Makeup Product of the Year in WWD’s Beauty Inc Awards. According to SELF, the publication polled mass retailers to find out which products flew off the shelves this year, and this particular mascara was the frontrunner. According to Maybelline, the tube has already gained nearly $40 million in sales.
So why is this guy so popular? It’s the wand. The Lash Sensational wand has two types of bristles; a short comb to define shorter hairs and longer bristles to lengthen your lashes.
I have this mascara and have to agree that it’s pretty good. The brush definitely does do a good job getting every lash and coating them in deep black. I actually pull this guy out the most for its longevity of the product on my lashes. It doesn’t budge. It’s not a waterproof formula, but the mascara doesn’t run, even during wet or sweaty conditions (seriously, I wear it to hot yoga).
Anyways, this brings me to this post. Maybelline released a new formula in the Lash Sensational family with their Luscious mascara. I received this guy before Christmas with all the rest of the new spring 2016 releases and although I did find it impressive, I didn’t really put much thought into it until I read that article.
Lash Sensational Luscious has a fanning reservoir brush, which creates a “dense, supple fan effect”. The formula includes precious oils to make your lashes feel soft, not brittle. Unlike the original formula, this one is a black tube with pink text on it (the exact opposite of Lash Sensational).
So how does it hold up? Well, for one, it doesn’t have that amazing brush that people rave about. It’s still on the thinner side though, with shorter bristles, letting you really get in there and coat your lashes. With that being said, I actually like this mascara better. The original formula was just alright at first, you kind of have to let it dry out a bit before it works great, whereas this one is great off the hop.
This mascara left my lashes looking super long and dark. They don’t however, leave them soft. My eyelashes still feel quite brittle, but I think it’s all part of the formula; if they were soft, I don’t think I would get that wow factor.
Lashes look so long and dark that I don’t really recommend using this on your bottom lashes as it’s quite harsh. I like softer lower lashes, but that’s just my opinion. There was also slight flaking, but it’s not a huge deal, I’ve used tons of mascaras that ended up running, so a little flaking is no big deal.
Overall, I highly recommend this mascara. If you are fan of the original Lash Sensational, you’ll love this one (perhaps even more!).
Please note, products provided by PR. All opinions are my own.
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